Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan appeared on stage together in Vandalla, Ohio, yesterday, their first joint appearance in nearly a month. It was an interesting event for a variety of reasons, but let's start with what happened when the presidential hopeful introduced his running mate.
For those who can't watch clips online, when Romney introduced the vice presidential nominee, the crowd started chanting "Ry-an! Ry-an!" Romney interrupted them, hoping instead to hear, "Rom-ney, Ry-an; Rom-ney, Ry-an." It looked as if the candidate's ego was getting the better of him -- Romney wants his name chanted, and he wants it to come first.
The moment helped capture a larger area of concern for the Republican ticket. The New York Times reports today that the campaign will have the two men campaign together with increasing frequency, even though it's inefficient to cover less ground, because aides fear Romney is "not generating enough attention and excitement" on his own.
No wonder Romney didn't like the crowd chanting Ryan's name.
As it turns out, Ryan may not be thrilled, either. Politico's Roger Simon has a column today on the right-wing congressman deciding to "distance himself from the floundering Romney campaign." Ryan has apparently "been marching around his campaign bus, saying things like, 'If Stench calls, take a message' and 'Tell Stench I'm having finger sandwiches with Peggy Noonan and will text him later.'"
The quote is a reference to Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, telling the New York Times over the weekend, "I hate to say this, but if Ryan wants to run for national office again, he'll probably have to wash the stench of Romney off of him."
In applied terms, Simon's piece went on to note that Ryan no longer likes the directions "dictated by his Romney handlers."
It's quite a presidential campaign, isn't it?
Update: There's apparently some debate about whether Roger Simon's column is satire. I'd just note for context that the piece isn't identified as satire, Simon is a chief political correspondent and not a satirist, and the column is filled with details and anecdotes that are, in fact, accurate. If it is satire, it's awfully tough to tell.
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Ryan needs to have that ego bubble burst. He's nothing more than the next great Republican unicorn, like Palin, Bachmann, Cain, Gingrich, Santorum and Perry. In the Wizard of Oz, it took a little dog to expose the phony. Today's media can only keep the curtain shut for just so long.
I have seen the term "shiny pony" used for one of our Canadian politicians (look up Justin Trudeau) which really didn't apply since he is a decent man.
I suppose this might be another term to use for Ryan.
Incidently, Trudeau has just declared his candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party which, if he does eventually become Prime Minister, will be the first time a son has succeeded his father in the office of Prime Minister.
SayBlade ... I hadn't seen the CBC yet so thanks for that update. If Justin T wins the leadership, the Conservatives are toast! (she says hopefully!). I met Margaret once, very nice woman trying to keep her life on track and out of the press.
Sorry, now back to your regularly scheduled US political discussions ... :-)
So Ryan is "going rogue" on his Romney handlers, is he? Hmmm...wasn't there another GOP VP candidate who did that in the last election...whatever happened to her political career?
What IS it with all these arrogant young Republicans? Do they think just because they are good looking and charismatic that votes automatically drop into their laps? Talk about lazy and thinking they're entitled!!! FANSWAT!
In applied terms, Simon's piece went on to note that Ryan no longer likes the directions "dictated by his Romney handlers."
Sound like he's following the advice of Sarah Palin and "going rogue."
There is nothing the slightest bit unusual about a rat jumping off a sinking ship.
Hi I'm a lemming...I mean a liberal and I have no idea what I'm talking about but I hear if I just follow the lemming... I mean liberal in front of me we are all going to the beach!
Mor-man and Boy Blunder love going off half-cocked. That's why they can't be near each other - Someone might get hurt.
Sort of reminds me of Sarah Palin. Is Ryan about to go rogue? Who is going to play him in the made for tv movie?
In every picture he reminds me of one of those "Twilight" characters.
Butch Patrick of course
@Sick, Yes, the only possible choice!
@Ron Byers, I was thinking the actor who played 'Paul Ryan' in As The World Turns. Since that show was cancelled he needs a job.
I can't help but see a smurf every time they show that stock photo of Ryan on TV.
http://qkme.me/3r30ik
The best Ryan look-alike has got to be Matthew Morrison (the Glee teacher). http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/slideshow/resembles--17004431
The script writes itself but making it a musical, so it's more digestible by some audiences, would be brilliant.
Removed my own post.
Who was the kid who played Eddie Munster?
As for who should play Ryan in the made-for-tv movie coming out nest spring, here's an idea.
http://mariopiperni.com/clowns/romney-and-ryan-as-the-new-munsters.php
Lorr-2611132 removed her own post out of shame and embarrassment and if you Libs had any you'd do the same!
Hey Ryan , You didn't hear the AARP folks booing you?
You and your teabaggin' approach are done . I would worry more about washing the stench of your own policies off .
You really should turn off Faux news, you are starting to believe what they say, and no, even if they have Rasmussen on saying the polls are wrong a majority of the people reject you and what you stand for .
Brain dead libs reject the truth even when it's plain as day!
THe Republican Party needs to face reality soon enough. They picked a failure as a nominee and he is dragging the entire party down with him. Embracing the right wing of the GOP by picking Paul Ryan as his running mate only solidified the opposition and disdain most voters feel toward Mitt. Romney is a natural moderate trying to run a red meat Tea Party campaign in a country that desires competence, compromise and sanity. Now we're hearing from the right that the "liberal" media has "skewed" all of the polls, and that Romney is actually winning? These antics smack of rampant desperation and derangement. The GOP establishment knows the game is up, and they're trying to salvage some of the shattered pieces from this debacle named Mitt. - progressive
and bear in mind who the other "choices" were. They are so over
Activist - Don't blame the candidates only, the GOP and their full out embrace of the tea-bagging know nothings had them doomed from the beginning. Mittens not being able to "stand for anything" just solidified that grand pact!
GOTP wrong for America, wrong for democracy, just plain wrong...
Don't worry - it will soon be over and both Ryan and Romney will be released from their pain....
AND SO WILL WE!
Activist,
I just had this flash: The GOP seems to have a "it's your/my turn to run/be president." Like, McCain, and GWB before him, and GHWB before all of them.
This is kind of like fighting the last war. none of these people have anything new to add to the campaign. They just continue to throw out the same old defenses. Even the way K. Rove tries to "swift boat" various candidates doesn't work because we have seen that movie.
Anyway, I just saw a couple of dots and connected them.
Stench? I don't believe that for a second. When Ryan quotes are "reportedly" correct, I feel confident the by-lined Obama campaign is at work.
I don't agree with you very much, Shooter, but yeah, the Politico "article" is a hack job.
Me too Shooter. I do not trust anything from Politico. Hackery refined to an art form in order to generate eyeballs to it's website and increase revenues. Did you see Bill Maher take Jim VandeHei apart a few weeks back when he tried to lie to him.
"Politico" and "hack job" are synonyms. Shooter, for once your comment rings true.
Yeah, I find it very hard to believe that Ryan would be so casually throwing around insults about his running mate in the age of HD video cell phones.
Nobody's more responsible for the Stench (we're in) than Paul Ryan. I think it rings true because I think it matches his character. Just think of his convention speech, and tell me that guy isn't an unethical piece of shhit. You can't do it.
It rings true because you have a head like a gong DisgustedWithItAlll!
Their strides and dress tell all. Ryan's cowboy swagger and Romney's prissy princess steps. Ryan's cowboy jeans and Romney's mom jeans. I know, a very Maureen Dowd analysis, but ... body language means something, no? The thrill of slicktory, the agony of de feet.
The second page of the above-linked-to Roger Simon article has some pretty good trashing of PowerPoint, for anybody into that sort of thing.
Yes, the Powerpoint snark was a thing of beauty - and validation of what I've been observing about Ryan for years - mainly that he's a mediocre thinker who wastes everyone's time with useless busywork.
The Powerpoint bit was to let dolts know it was satire! but I guess it was too nuanced for you so I guess that knocks you down a notch from dolt!
I am reminded of the scene from Mr. Roberts, where the captain talks about "disharmony aboard this ship!
I think it may be time to re-run Rachel's clip from Goldfinger, with either Ryan or Romney getting sucked out the window.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHXevnoAciY
While I would love to believe the article, and I'm sure that Ryan is probably having all sorts of remorse for accepting the position, I have a lot of trouble believing that a politician at the national level would express disrespect SO publicly and SO blatantly. It's too obvious and the article sounds too good to be true.
Not that I don't think Ryan is *thinking* these things...
He's going rogue. Haven't we seen this movie before?
It is hard to understand how Lyin' Ryan might think he could distance himself from a campaign he's a part of - is he planning to resign his candidacy for the VP office?
Get Enraged and Engaged:
Mooch the Vote 2012!
;-)
When you are winning, everyone is your best friend. When you are losing, no one wants to be associated with you. Human nature at its most raw element adapted to our society. Why Paul Ryan ever said yes to Romney is the lingering question I have.
I actually agree with shooter- the politico article was a bit of a hack job on Ryan.
*shrug*
The underlying issue isn't Ryan's personality, or Romney's lack thereof, but rather that the Republicans have no game. Nobody (except the echo chamber of the faux news crowd) is buying the whole ''Trickle down is goooooood for you" crap anymore. Even old people, vets, etc. (ie- traditionally R voters) are finally beginning to see the truth.
Republican poilicies are out of date and out of place with modern 21st century American society, and until they catch up, the Republican party will continue to decline.
I don't know. There was a lot of stuff coming out about discord in the McCain/Palin camp last time around that was a little hard to believe, and it turned out to be the tip of the iceberg.
Then again, that was Palin. Ryan is a misguided, hypocritical fool, but he isn't stupid.
Not entirely sure I agree with that - no current Rape-Public-CON seems to me like the sharpest tool in anybody's shed.
Get Enraged and Engaged:
Mooch the Vote 2012!
;-)
Secret Service note:
FlipFlopper? or Stench?
Stench/Stinker 2012 its a tea lovers dream
Stench ?
Perhaps it's time for a "mercy" flush. Find two unknowns - have their names legally changed to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan and just switch them out. The Republican polls would go up over night - assuming anyone noticed the switch.
What is Paul Ryan complaining about the stench for? Paul Ryan fits in so well with that stench.
I have a dream. Romney/Ryan loses, and Ryan loses his House seat. The stench can never be washed away, and come January we never hear from Mr. Ryan again.
Freddie..only if you don't watch Fox "news". There is always room there for intellectual sewage.
Every campaign rips off a rock song for its anthem. These losers need look no further than Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic, "That Smell."
Perfect! LOL
Not to mention that Lynyrd Skynyrd has the right politics for them. Go Confederacy!
I just can't help myself...
It goes on to say, "the smell of death around you" That's the old and sick, poor, oh yea 47%
To smell idiots all you have to do is sniff each other! you should all perhaps slap each other for not noticing satire when it kicks sand on your puny minds!
Haha! Racal Maddow! you dickens, you can't take credit for this one! It's too unbelievable. Has there been an election where the vp candidate has attacked the Presidential Candidate? Does Paul Ryan remind you of Sarah Palin? http://chasmcduffee.blogspot.com/2012/09/stench.html more silliness and questions can be found at this URL.
What is it with these guys and the nicknames they give their teammates? Stench? Turd Blossom? They don't sound like affectionate joshing to me.
You just don't understand Orcs, do you? :-)
Captain of the Replacement Cheerleaders.
Captain of the Replacement Cheerleaders.
Answer? Ryan needs to "go rogue"! Call buddy Sarah for a play-book!
Just FYI, the city's name is Vandalia, not Vandalla.
There is no way that I can see Romney being my President, but sometimes I feel sorry for the guy. Every time he tries to come across as just one of us, it somehow backfires on him. You'd think he'd get that message by now.
Even children shun him. There was this article in the New York Times yesterday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/us/politics/romney-and-ryan-attack-obama-on-foreign-policy.html?hpw
The paper copy had three pictures rather than one. In the first and second one, the child is leaning towards the security guys to greet them. In the third one, she leaned back into her mother's lap, and it was Romney who had to lean towards her to shake her hand. Evidently, the poor guy doesn't have Obama's touch when it comes to small fry (which small fry is often as intuitively sensitive to the good guys and the bad guys as any dog)
So the new Republican Ticket is "Mitt Stench and Paul Ayn Rand"? Should the comments attributed to Paul Ryan be accurate then Mitt really is having trouble in Romney World.